With the region's first specialist children's unit due to open this Spring, Benfield Motor Group are the motoring force behind the latest fund raising drive for St Oswald's Hospice Jigsaw Appeal.

St Oswald's, in Gosforth, Newcastle, has launched its annual car raffle and there was plenty to celebrate as the star prize, a Nissan Micra, stood proudly before the children's building.

Once again the Benfield Motor Group's Charitable Trust donated the first prize.

John Squires, chairman of Benfield Motor Group, said: "As a company with such a large presence in the North East region we are pleased to support local charities and our local community.

"It is an honour for Benfield Motor Group's charitable trust to be able to help such a worthwhile cause as St Oswald's Hospice. We wish them luck with the Jigsaw Appeal for 2003."

Last year the event raised &#xA3;34,000 and if it is as successful this year, St Oswald's will be right on target for welcoming in the first children and their families in a matter of months.

Brian Bell, St Oswald's fund raising manager, said: "The local community has been incredibly supportive of St Oswald's Jigsaw Appeal and have certainly helped us on our way to opening our children's service. Because of this, we want to help our supporters on their way with some fantastic prizes.

"St Oswald's Hospice continues to provide care and support to local adults and when the children's unit opens we know that we are going to make a big difference to so many young people's lives. We hope that we can also brighten up a supporter's summer by picking their raffle ticket out of the hat."

The raffle will be drawn at St Oswald's Summer Fair, on Saturday 21st, June, in the hospice grounds.

Tickets cost 50p and will be on sale throughout the region during the following months. If you can sell books on behalf of St Oswald's, please call 0870 700 3030.

St Oswald's Jigsaw Appeal supports St Oswald's Hospice while raising the additional &#xA3;5.1 million needed to build a specialist respite unit for North East children and their families. There is still &#xA3;100,000 to go before the doors can open this Spring. The service will provide care and support for children with progressive, life limiting conditions from Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and North Co Durham.

Benfield Motor Group has 20 dealerships throughout the North of England and employs more than 1,000 members of staff.

With a turnover of more than &#xA3;200 million Benfield is ranked among the Britain's top 30 car dealership groups. Information on the company can be found at